Al Baleed Archaeological Park
The ruins of Zafar, a medieval port that once traded frankincense across the Indian Ocean. The site lies beside a lagoon and is part of the World Heritage listing of Oman's frankincense trail.
Salalah
Waterfalls, beaches and frankincense sites draw visitors to this southern city, which turns green during the khareef monsoon season.
Attractive locations
Museum of the Land of Frankincense
A museum next to the ruins of Al Baleed that explains the history of the frankincense trade and the maritime links of the Dhofar region, using models, artefacts and displays.
Khor Rori
The ruins of an ancient trading port, called Sumhuram, standing above a quiet creek on the coast. Together with Al Baleed, it is part of a World Heritage site tied to frankincense.
Tomb of Job
A shrine in the hills traditionally said to hold the tomb of the prophet Job, honoured by Muslims. Visitors are asked to dress modestly and behave respectfully; the views over the valley are a bonus.
Dhofar Mountains
The hills behind Salalah, which turn green during the monsoon season from about June to September. Roads wind through fog, waterfalls and grassland, a striking contrast with the rest of Arabia.
Wadi Darbat
A green valley and pool inland from Salalah that fills with water after the summer monsoon. Waterfalls flow in the khareef season, and families picnic by the water.
Airports
Salalah International Airport SLL
It is about 2 km in a straight line from Salalah.
Scams and safe taxis
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan21.3 °C2 mm
- Feb22.0 °C7 mm
- Mar24.3 °C33 mm
- Apr26.8 °C5 mm
- May28.0 °C55 mm
- Jun27.9 °C11 mm
- Jul25.4 °C82 mm
- Aug24.5 °C58 mm
- Sep25.3 °C94 mm
- Oct26.1 °C2 mm
- Nov25.2 °C11 mm
- Dec22.7 °C3 mm
Driest months: Jan, Oct, Dec. Wettest months: Jul, Aug, Sep.
Costs
Prices here are about 47% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Festivals and events
nature
Khareef season (Salalah monsoon)
The mountains are green and misty while Arabia elsewhere is hot, and the hotels are full of Gulf families.
Who can help
Emergency
9999 for police, ambulance and fire.
local government
Ministry of Heritage and Tourism
Helps with: Oman's tourism ministry. Its headquarters contact page lists phone numbers and email for inquiries, and the ministry's website has a suggestions and complaints section.
Who qualifies: Anyone visiting Oman or planning a trip there.
Phone: +968 22088000
Email: [email protected]
Address: P.O. Box 200, P.C. 115 Madinat Al-Sultan Qaboos, Muscat, Al Khuwair, Thaqafah St
local government
Royal Oman Police
Helps with: Oman's national police. Its website has a general email, a phone directory page and a map of police stations. No tourist police unit is shown there.
Who qualifies: Anyone in Oman who needs police services.
Phone: 9999
Email: [email protected]
embassy
Foreign embassies and consulates in Oman (Ministry of Foreign Affairs list)
Helps with: For a lost passport or serious trouble, contact your own country's embassy. This official list gives each mission's email, phone and address; some missions are based in other countries.
Who qualifies: Citizens of each country, through their own embassy or consulate.